Author: Tvankchian Parkev

EBRD TO PROVIDE MILLION TO AMERIABANK

Noyan Tapan
March 4, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the agreement signed between the
representatives of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD) and Ameriabank on March 4, EBRD will provide million to
Ameriabank. Chairman of Ameriabank Artak Hanesian said at a press
conference held after the signing ceremony that this money will be
allocated for crediting small and medium business. In his words,
the bank values highly cooperation with EBRD and intends to sign new
agreements in the near future, including an agreement on financing
small and medium enterprises. Ameriabank’s representative Levon
Arevshatian explained that the bank will add its own money to the
indicated 10 million dollars and lend this sum, which means that the
two banks will co-finance the program.

EBRD Director for Central Asia, the Caucasus and Mongolia Mike
Taylor stated that by launching a joint program with Ameriabank, EBRD
once again demonstrated its willingness to assist the development of
Armenia’s private sector. "We are glad that Ameriabank is participating
in our co-financing program, which will allow it to increase its
credit portfolio," he said. Noting that 2009 was a difficult year for
Armenia, M. Taylor expressed a hope that 2010 will be more successful
from the economic point of view.

RUBEN KARAPETYAN IS NOT THE REPRESENTATIVE

03/4/ruben-karapetyan
01:01 pm | March 04, 2010

Official

On March 3, Serzh Sargsyan issued a decree on liberating Ruben
Karapetyan from his duties as Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to the League of Arab States.

By a decree issued on the same day, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Arabic Republic of
Egypt Armen Melkonyan was appointed Plenipotentiary Representative
of the Republic of Armenia to the League of Arab States (residence
in Cairo).

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

CHURCHES IN INDIA EXEMPLIFY ECUMENISM IN THE XXIst CENTURY
Stated His Holiness Aram I Before Leaving India

During his five-day visit Catholicos Aram I met on several occasions with
His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I, Catholicos of the East and
Malankara, of the Indian Orthodox Church, and the members of the Holy Synod
of the first Christian Church on the sub-continent. He also met with the
representatives of the Syrian Orthodox Catholicos, Archbishops and Heads of
the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant Churches, Ecumenical
representatives, former WCC staff and government officials.

He addressed the Synod of the Indian Orthodox Church, clergy, theologians
and seminarians of Christian churches on contemporary ecumenical issues such
as: Ecumenism in the XXIst Century, Christian Unity, Fellowship Building,
and Interreligious Living. He also spoke of The Armenian Church and the
Ecumenical Movement, reminding the audience of the long history of the
presence of Armenians on the Asian Continent and its ecumenical relations.

He visited churches and monuments built by St. Thomas, prayed with the
Orthodox believers and shared their spirituality and piety.

Upon his departure from India he described the Indian Orthodox Church with
its leadership and people as an example of what it meant to be the church in
multireligious society of India . His Holiness then commanded local
ecumenism. He said that observing the way churches are living and working
together teaches us about local ecumenism; and finally, he continued, being
minorities in a largely Hindu society, and relating with other faiths, shows
how dialogue and enculturation take shape.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

TURKEY RECRUITS ARMENIAN LINGUISTS IN AZERBAIJAN

news.az
March 3 2010
Azerbaijan

Armenian alphabet A Turkish university is recruiting Armenian language
specialists in Azerbaijan, as it cannot find enough qualified people
in Turkey.

A university in Turkey’s Nevsehir province is completing work to open
a faculty of Armenian language and literature.

Professor Mehmet Metin Hulagu of Erciyes University believes that the
faculty will serve as a bridge in relations between the two countries,
according to Sabah newspaper.

Considering the low number of specialists that can speak Armenian in
Turkey, he said they had sought recruits in Azerbaijan.

"We have already reached a preliminary agreement with Azerbaijani
specialists in Armenian and the faculty will open in 2010," the
professor said.

"We will try to study Armenians’ experience in creating a lobby,
to study their script, literature, life and traditions," he said.

YEREVAN TO RATIFY PROTOCOLS ONLY AFTER ANKARA RATIFIES THEM

RIA Novosti
March 3, 2010
Yerevan

The National Assembly of Armenia plans to ratify Armenian-Turkish
protocols on bilateral relations only after the Turkish Parliament
signs them, Armenian speaker Ovik Abramyan said on Wednesday.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu signed protocols on establishing diplomatic
relations and on developing bilateral relations last October. They
are yet to be approved by their parliaments.

"The Armenian-Turkish protocols should only concern issues of
establishing diplomatic relations and the opening of the borders
between the two countries. The speaker said the Armenian Parliament
will ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols after they are ratified by
the Turkish Parliament," the press service of the Armenian Parliament
said in a statement.

The Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 on Ankara’s
initiative. Bilateral relations are complicated over the genocide
issue as well as by Turkey’s support of Azerbaijan’s position in the
Nagorny Karabakh problem.

Azerbaijan recently renewed threats of military action to retake
disputed Nagorny Karabakh over a lack of progress in talks with
Armenia.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the region since a brutal war
in the 1990s between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed enclave
inside Azerbaijan with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population.

Some 30,000 people died in the conflict, which erupted after the
mountainous region declared independence in 1991. Karabakh has been
under Armenian control since a Russian-brokered ceasefire in 1994.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday at a joint press
conference after talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev
that France and Russia will continue close cooperation in settling
the Karabakh conflict.

"WE’RE NOT EXPECTING AMNESTY"

10/03/2/pashinyan
06:12 pm | March 02, 2010 |

Tomorrow the Appeals Court will hear the appeal filed by Nikol
Pashinyan’s advocates against the verdict reached by the first
instance court.

In an interview with "A1+", advocate Lusine Sahakyan did not express
any hope that there would be a change tomorrow.

"We no longer have hope in the judicial system and have no
expectations from tomorrow’s trial. We just need to use all
governmental instances to appeal to the European Court. Of course, it
would be wonderful for us to be mistaken and to have the Appeals Court
reach a fair verdict for Nikol Pashinyan," said Sahakyan. Nikol
Pashinyan has been sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Lusine Sahakyan finds it strange that people are talking about the
need for Nikol’s amnesty. "It is very bad to see people talking about
the act of applying or not applying amnesty. We must expect the
verdict of justice and not amnesty."

Nikol Pashinyan’s advocate added that if the judicial act were legal,
the first instance court would be obliged to apply amnesty, which it
hasn’t.

Lusine Sahakyan said she was surprised by the Prosecutor General’s
statement according to which they would protest in the case of no
amnesty.

"I don’t know what the prosecutor meant when he said that amnesty
would be applied after the verdict went into effect. There can be no
amnesty after the verdict is in effect. In that case, who will apply
the verdict? Everything is clearly stated in the Amnesty
Proclamation," said Lusine Sahakyan and concluded that if the
prosecution is truly concerned about the application of amnesty for
Pashinyan, it had to at least a demand for amnesty along with the
protest-appeal.

Let us remind that prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan has also filed a
protest to the Appeals Court, demanding to reach an accusatory verdict
under Part 1, Article 316 of the RA Penal Code (assault against a
state representative).

AZERBAIJAN WON’T MAKE CONCESSIONS, SAFARIAN SAYS

Aysor
March 1 2010
Armenia

"Azerbaijan is preparing for a war, and this is not a secret. I’d like
this to be clear. However, in the estimation of both Russian and the
U.S. experts, Azerbaijan can’t open hostilities in the near future as
it hasn’t got resources to begin war and win," said secretary of the
‘Prosperous Armenia’ Party Aram Safarian.

Aram Safarian pointed out that in addition, violating agreements on
weapons, Azerbaijan acquires weapons. This issue should be raised by
relevant experts and specialists, according to Aram Safarian. He said
that Armenian side considers the only alternative to solve the Karabakh
conflict – peace settlement; however, Azerbaijan’s attempts to acquire
weapons shouldn’t be ignored, but should be investigated and informed.

"Azerbaijan’s administration signs an agreement, speaks about
something, but acts contrary to the made statements. So, no doubt
they aren’t going to make concessions at all," added Aram Safarian.

THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT PROCESS MAY STOP, ERDOGAN THREATENS

Armradio.am
01.03.2010 11:46

"If on March 4 the US Congress passes a resolution on Armenian
genocide, the process of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement will be
stopped," Turkish Preime MinisterRecep Tayyip Erdogan said at the
session of the EU group on legal reforms, according to the Hurriyet.

"Our deputy group is currently in the United States. We also continue
this process and we are in a constant contact with all concerned
parties. The process launched in Switzerland is under way and if the
opposite side demonstrates constructivism, I think we will manage to
gain results. Yet, if on March 4 and April 24 the United States take
a wrong step, the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement will be stopped. I
think the US Congressmen will take this into account before taking
a decision on this issue," Erdogan said.

Azerbaijani MPs are expected to visit Nagorno Karabakh

armradio.am
27.02.2010 16:05

"Presently, negotiations continue over the expansion of the
Azerbaijani delegation’s staff, which will visit Nagorno-Karabakh. The
date of the visit is still to be coordinated," MP Rovshan Rzayev told
Trend News.

Azerbaijani and Armenian PMs met in Moscow earlier. With regard to
holding the next meeting in another country, Rzayev said that they
were interested in organizing the meeting only in Karabakh and would
continue efforts in this direction.

A group of intellectuals visited Nagorno-Karabakh in 2009 with the
participation of Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu.

KARDASHIAN ENDORSEMENTS SEEM TO HAVE VA-VA-VROOM

Los Angeles Times
010/02/kim-kardashian-and-products-endorsements-pe rfume-nascar-cupcakes-candles-and-more.html
Feb 26 2010

While researching the story on the Kardashian phenomenon that ran last
Friday (written in conjunction with my compatriot Harriet Ryan in the
Calendar section), I compiled a laundry list of all the endorsement
deals and product-pitching pies Team Kardashian has its manicured
fingers in, and it’s turned out to be quite an impressive list.

Because the most recent season of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians"
is over, I thought I’d post a sampling so the Kardashi-fascinated
among you can get your fresh fix of the family.

Athletic apparel: Kim recently signed on to endorse Muscle Flex VATA
athletic wear, a deal put together by local firm TLK Fusion, which
lists most of the Jenner/Kardashian family on its talent roster. Its
principals, Ken Collis and Tracy Keyser, told me they’ve helped broker
a wide range of endorsements for the family, including Famous Cupcakes
(see below), charity appearances and wristwatches.

Designer clothes: On Feb. 16, a line of Kardashian-appropriate
clothes — a collaboration between Kim, Kourtney and Khloe and Bebe —
debuted on the catwalk during New York Fashion Week.

Perfume: Earlier in February, Kim Kardashian the fragrance rolled
out exclusively to Sephora stores. It’s described as a fragrance
that "captures the many facets of Kim’s personality," including
"gorgeous voluptuous florals [that] reflect her captivating nature,"
and "jasmine, tuberose and gardenia [that] evoke her femininity." My
fellow All The Rager Melissa Magsaysay (who caught up with Her Kimness
at the Century City Sephora) says it smells like Michael Kors (the
scent, not the man).

Jewelry: A 20-piece Kardashian Collection by Los Angeles-based
Virgins Saints and Angels debuted at the Project Las Vegas trade
show in mid-February and is expected to hit retail in March. Cheryl
Finnegan, owner and designer of the line, said she’d recently realized
the extent of the sisters’ popularity.

"The line is inspired by their Armenian heritage," Finnegan told me.

"And one of my sales reps is Russian, and she’s always checking out
Russian blogs and it’s been amazing the play that the jewelry line is
getting in Russia because of the Armenian connection — I’m getting
calls to open up stores in Russia [because of it]."

Fast-Food:

Carl’s Jr. Cranberry Apple Walnut Grilled Chicken Salad + Kim
Kardashian in a bathtub = double sales. Need we say more?

Candles: On Feb. 11, Salt Lake City candle company For Every Body
launched the first of its Kardashian candle (kandle?) line, a $14
soy wax, 60-hour candle manufactured exclusively for Kim, Khloe and
Kourtney. It’s supposed to smell like birthday cake, complete with a
"signature birthday sprinkle topping." ï~@®

Lollipops: All three sisters have turned up on red carpets with – and
turned out to grand openings for – Sugar Factory’s "Signature Series"
Couture Pops. FYI, according to the site, one of Kim’s favorites,
the Silver Rainbow (which comes with a bedazzled handle), will set
you back a cool $25.

Shoes: Kim Kardashian is the co-founder and chief fashion stylist
for ShoeDazzle.com, a kind of online shoe-of-the-month club that
gives members access to a celebrity stylist to help them choose the
appropriate footwear for their personal style — for $39.95 a month.

Weight-loss products: Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian-Odom endorse
the QuickTrim line of products.

NASCAR: When race car driver Mike Bliss hits the track for the Shelby
American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
on Feb. 28, his No. 36 Chevrolet (part of the Tommy Baldwin Racing
Team) is expected to be sporting the likeness of Her Kimness in a
pinkish paint scheme that advertises her new fragrance.

And for anyone who happens to be in Sin City, a dolled-up No. 36
"Kim Kar" is slated to be parked outside the Sephora in the Venetian’s
Grand Canal Shoppes from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 27, while she makes
a public appearance inside). In addition, Kardashian is scheduled to
serve as grand marshal of the race.

Cupcakes: The ladies turn out to store openings and events for Famous
Cupcakes, "our favorite cupcakes" and "one is never enough" say the
Web ads bearing their likenesses. And now you can make Kim’s favorite
flavor cupcake (kupcake?) — Va-Va-Va-Nilla — at home.

Although I find it hard to imagine any of them squeezing time to whip
up a batch of cupcakes in between personal appearances, the cupcake
caper seems somehow fitting for a family that’s clearly cooking on
all burners in the branding department.

— Adam Tschorn